Store-service apparatus



(No Modem f I' T. A. 8v 1:'. D. SIMONS 8v A. BEACH. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

y 180.382,010l Patented May 1,- 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

THOMAs A. sIMONs, EEANK D. sIMONs, AND ADAM BEACH, OE OOLUM. Bus, OHIO.

STOREeSERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.382,010, dated May 1, 1888.

Application filed February 27| 1888. Serial No. 265,429. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern/.-

Be it known that we, THoMAs A. SIMON's, FRANK D. SIMONs, and ADAM BEACH, citizens of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of h10, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the improvement 0f store-service apparatus such as is used in store-rooms and other similar places for the transmission of cash and packages; and the objects of our invention are to produce an apparatus of this class by means of which cash may be easily and rapidly transmitted from one point to another and to construct the same In asimple and inexpensive manner. These objects we accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a central horizontal sec tion of the catch-block. Fig. 3 is a front view ofv the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a view ofthe under side of the cash-cup cover, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the central portion of the cashcup cover and the upper portion of the cup.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents a metallic hanger, which depends vertically from the ceiling or from some other high point in a room. Projecting forwardly from the hanger A, at right angles therewith, is an arm, a. A short distance above the arm a is made to project from the hanger A a second forwardly-extending arm, a', preferably slightly shorter than the arm a,

and having projecting from its outer end a bumper or cushion, a3, of rubber or other suitable material. At a point below the arm a is made to extend forwardly from the hanger A a metallic rod,B,which, being preferably curved upward and having its outer end bent downwardly and rearwardly, has its rear portion passing through a hole formed in the hanger A, and is adjustably held therein by a setscrew, b, entering a screw-hole in the hanger A at right angles with said rod B.

C represents a lever-arm pivoted at a point in its upper half to the outer end of the arm a. The upper end of this lever-arm extends slightly above the arm a', and is provided with a short rearwardly-extending pin, c. The lower portion of the lever C is forked, as shown, the extremities of said fork being connected by a cord-loop, e.

The hanger A is provided at a point opposite the upper end of the lever-arm C with a transverse pin-hole, through which extends horizontally from station to station, and hav ing its respective ends passing through holes formed in the lower portions of the hangers A and attached to any desired points in rear thereof.

F represents an oblong metallic catch-block, having its front and rear end formed solid, and having a portion of its sides extending lslightly below said solid portions, as shown.

Between the downward extensions of the side of the block, near the frontend thereof, is pivoted the central portion of a curved catchtrigger, f, having its front end extending beyond the front end of the block, and having the upper side of its front end and the lower side of its rear end provided with a shoulder or catch-lug, as shown. b

Secured to the under side of the solid por tion of the block F is the upper side of a spring-strip, l, the lower end of which is adapted to bear against the upper surface of t-he trigger f near its rear end, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The block F is provided at each end with au upwardly-projecting lug, f. Through holes formed in these lugs passes loosely the track-wire E. The front end of the block F is provided with a rubber bumper, g. To the upper side of the rear block, f', is pivoted one end of a; short pin, h. This pin 71. is connected with the outer end of the rod B by means of an elastic rubber tube, z'.

IOO

Secured to the rear end of the block F is one end of a cord, K, which, extending rearwardly, passes over a small pulley-wheel, k, pivoted within an open slot formed in the lower portion ofthehangcr A, and from thence passes downwardly through asuitable keeper, 7;', projecting from the rear side of the hanger A, and terminates within a convenient reaching distance from the iioor.

M represents a tripping-pin, which projects.

from the front side of the hanger A at a point below thevwheel k', its upper side being beveled forwardly and downwardly.

N represents an oblong ear, consisting of a metallic bar having two upwardly-projecting flanges, u, at each end, between each pair of which is pivoted a grooved traekwhcel, n', adapted to rest and be made to run upon the traclewire E. The outer end of each of the flanges n is formed with upwardly-extending fingers p, as shown. The lower side of the car at each end is provided with a downwardly-projecting shoulder, n2,while each end of the car has projecting therefrom a bumper, q, of rubber or other suitable material.

R represents a diskshaped cup-cover supported beneath the center of the car by means of lugs r, projecting upwardly from said cupcover and secured to the under side of the car.

The cover R is provided with a peripherical shallow rim having a peripherical iiange, s, the latter being cutaway at opposite points, s, as shown.

Loosely tting within the rim of the cupcover is athin disk, T, formed of any suitable spring metal and held in such position that its lower surface will be about lush with the lower edge of said rim by means of a bolt, t, passing through said disk, thence through a collar, t', fitting between the disk and the cover top plate, and thence through said top plate, where it is held by a nut, t2. The disk T is, as shown, provided with two or more cuts, n, from its outer edge inward toward its center.

\V represents the cash-cup, which is formed, in the usual manner, with two oppositely-lo cated upwardlyprojecting side connectingstrips, w, each of the latter having a hookshaped upper end adapted to t over and bear upon the flange s of the cup-cover. The circumference of the upper end of the cup being of such size as to lit loosely within the rim of the cup-cover, said cup and cover may be connected in the usual inanner-t'. e., by inserting the upper end of the cup within the rim of the cup-cover in such manner that the upper ends ofthe connecting strips will enter the openings s of the flange s. The cup is then turned until the hook-shaped ends of the strips zo engage with the flange s of the cover-rim.

The cupcover being provided with the spring-disk T, itwill be seen that in connecting the cup and cover the upper end ofthe cup will bear against and force upward the outer portion of said disk, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. As will readily be seen, the pressure ofthe disk thus caused upon the upper end ofthe cup will operate to overcome any tendency of the cup to turn in its place and become disconnected by any jar which The operation of our apparatus is as follows: For convenience we will suppose the car to be approaching a station. The car traveling upon the wire E passes between the fork-arms of the lever C, and, taking up the cord-loop e, continues onward until the shoulder a of the car comes into contact and engages with the upwardlyprojeeting catch-lug f of the trigger f. It will be seen that the bumper q of the car and the bumper g ofthe block F will thus be brought together and prevent any injury to the parts which might be caused by the forcible contact of the block and carrends, while the tension of the rubber tubes and D will limit the movement of the car. The car having thus been secured at the station, the cup V may be turned, and thus disconnected from its cover, the contents removed, and again connected with said cover, as heretofore described. The car may then be returned by pulling upon the cord K, operating to draw back the block F, car N, and lower portion of the pivoted propeller'arm C until the contact of the rear trigger-lug and the tripping-pin M operates to lower the front end of the triggerf until it is disengaged from the shoulder a2 of the car. The increased tension of the rubber tubes D and t', caused, respectively, by the movement of the propeller C and block F, will impart to the car, when released, sufficient force to cause it to travel to the remaining end of the line.

It will be observed that the tension of the rubber tube D may be regulated by drawing the pin d outward or inward, as desired, and fixing it in the desired position by means of the set-screw d', while the tension of the tube may be changed by a similar operation of the rod B and set-screw b. The pin h, being pivoted to the lugs f ofthe car, admits of the tube t' being held at all times in a direct line between the caring and end of the rod B.

XVe are aware that cash-cups similar to that herein shown have been used and that they have been connected with their cover in amanner similar te that herein described. Our device differs, however, from said known devices in having combined therewith the springdisk T.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isA` 1. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of the hanger A, having the outwardlyprojecting arm a, the propelling-lever C, pivoted to the arm a and provided with the loop e on its lower end, the elastic tube D, and the connecting-bar d, adapted to be adj usted on the hanger A, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of the hanger A, having the outwardlyprojecting arm a, the propelling-lever C, piv- IIO v oted Vto the arm a and provided with the loop necting said block and rod, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of the hanger A, having the outwardlyprojecting arm a, the propelling-lever C, pivoted to the arm a and provided with the loop e on its lower end, the elastic tube D, and the connecting-bar d, with the track-wire E, secured to the hangers, the pulley K and tripping-pin M in the lower end of said hangers, the catch-block F, having a cord passing over said pulley and a pivoted trigger, the adjustable rod B, and the elastic rubber tube t', con nected with said block, and a car mounted upon the track-wire, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a storeservice apparatus, the combination of the hanger A, having the outwardlyprojecting arm a, the propelling-lever C, piv- 25 oted to the arm a and provided with the loop e on its lower end, the elastic tube D, and the connecting-bar d, with the track-wire E, secured to the hangers, the pulley K and tripping-pin M in the lower end of said hangers, 3o the catch-block F, having a cord passing over said pulley and a pivoted trigger, the adjustable rod B, and the elastic rubber tube t, connected with said block, and a car mounted upon the traclnwire and having the shoulders 3 5 n2 and the upwardly-extended fingers p andl bumper q, substantially as and for the purpose described.

THOMAS A. SIMONS. FRANK D. SIMONS. ADAM BEACH. In presence of FRANK A. DAVIs, C. C. SHEPHERD. 

